Series 5: Bringing disruptive innovation to the powered wheelchair market

新冠肺炎大流行意味着轮椅使用者被限制在家中，外出活动的自由受到严重限制。大约30%的使用者依靠电动轮椅出行，即使是在家里。在COVID-19之前，许多轮椅使用者已经面临获得轮椅的延误，70%的人等待超过3个月。自大流行以来，由于工厂关闭和远离社会的工作做法，供应受到限制，这种情况变得更加严重。用户最担心的是轮椅故障和电池寿命短，这可能会导致他们被困或孤立。轮椅的设计和技术在过去的25年里一直没有改变，供应的椅子不可靠，需要经常维修和更换零件，而且对环境不友好。FreedomOneLife为电动轮椅市场带来了根本性的变化。在过去的5年里，我们一直在开发一种颠覆性的创新解决方案，以提高性能、可靠性、效率和美观性。我们的技术将增加用户的信心，并扩展powerchair性能和可靠性的界限。我们的5系列设计采用最新的可持续创新组件，用于电池，电机和控制单元，以提高效率，延长电池寿命，并将其与强大的现代设计相结合。我们的电动椅可以在未来防止用户出现故障，长时间等待零件，并让他们相信，在未来任何大流行的情况下，他们的机动性都将得到保障。我们的椅子制造起来也更容易、更快捷，可以为行业带来创新，即使在社会距离较远的情况下也能确保生产。为了进入我们的目标市场，我们需要获得1类医疗器械的认证。当COVID-19封锁来临时，我们正准备开始测试。该项目将进行复杂的电气和机械测试，以创建医疗器械分类所需的技术文件。我们将与供应链合作伙伴合作，建立一个具有成本效益的制造基地，从那里向欧洲各地等待下订单的分销商供应椅子。

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant wheelchair users being confined to their homes and having freedom severely restricted when out and about. Around 30% of users rely on powered wheelchairs to get around, even in the home. Before COVID-19 many wheelchair users already faced delays in obtaining their chair with 70% waiting more than 3 months. Since the pandemic, this situation has become significantly worse as supply has been limited through manufacturing closures and socially distanced working practices.Some of the biggest concerns of users are around wheelchair break down and short battery life that would cause them to become stranded or isolated. Wheelchair design and technology has remained unchanged for around 25 years, supplying chairs which are unreliable, require frequent servicing and parts replacement and which are not environmentally friendly.FreedomOneLife delivers radical change to the powered wheelchair market. We have spent the past 5 years developing a disruptive and innovative solution to improve performance, reliability, efficiency and aesthetics. Our technology will increase user confidence and stretch the boundaries of powerchair performance and reliability. Our Series 5 design uses the latest sustainable innovative components for batteries, motors and control units, for improved efficiency, extended battery life and combines this with a robust, modern design.Our powerchairs could future proof users against breakdowns, long waits for parts and bring confidence that their mobility will be preserved in any future pandemic scenario. Our chairs are also easier and swifter to manufacture and could bring innovation to the industry ensuring production even during socially distanced conditions.In order to access our target market, we need certification as a Class 1 medical device. We were at the point of commencing testing when the COVID-19 lockdown hit.This project will undertake the complex electrical and mechanical tests needed to create the required technical file for medical device classification. We will work with a supply chain partner to establish a cost-effective manufacturing base from which to supply chairs to distributors across Europe who are waiting to place orders.